JM Caswell questions

[adkmountainken]

I have a chance to buy an original JM Caswell rifle today I have many questions is there anybody that has time for me to pick their brain with a phone call?

 

[OLUT]

I have a chance to buy an original JM Caswell rifle today I have many questions is there anybody that has time for me to pick their brain with a phone call?

If you can access Swinney's "New York State Firearms Trade", there is an EXTENSIVE write-up on John M Caswell and many quality photos of his guns .... I'm too deaf for good phone conversations, but if you ask specific questions on this forum, I bet that several folks will provide knowledgeable answers

 

[adkmountainken]

Did Caswell build a smooth rifle? Did he always mark his barrels? Only the lock is marked JM Caswell on this one and appears to be a smooth rifle

 

[OLUT]

Did Caswell build a smooth rifle? Did he always mark his barrels? Only the lock is marked JM Caswell on this one and appears to be a smooth rifle

As a major builder (over 20 employees for many years), Caswell's enterprise made pistols, rifles, smooth rifles, etc. He is reported to have provided locks with his stamping to other gunmakers. Typically there is a Caswell stamp of one sort or another on the barrel, but I don't know if he always did. My conservative approach is to assume your gun was made with Caswell parts unless it can be proved that his shop did the actual build

 

[adkmountainken]

As a major builder (over 20 employees for many years), Caswell's enterprise made pistols, rifles, smooth rifles, etc. He is reported to have provided locks with his stamping to other gunmakers. Typically there is a Caswell stamp of one sort or another on the barrel, but I don't know if he always did. My conservative approach is to assume your gun was made with Caswell parts unless it can be proved that his shop did the actual build

Just bought rifle today will post latter!